“Abstract: As climate policies incentivise forest carbon enhancement, forest ecosystems have been reduced to carbon forestry. As a result, the potential of forests for both the natural world and human beings is being severely compromised. Co-benefits to ecosystems and communities have often been presented as a solution but without much effect. In this paper, we highlight how the current discourse on forest and climate change has become carbon centric, masking the overall resilience building potential of forest ecosystems. We also explore potential ways forward.